By Dathan Kazsuk
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Good for “they.” I’m usually not conscious enough before 10 a.m. to argue. But call it brunch—bacon, waffles, and something egg-adjacent, served at a civilized hour—and suddenly I’m a believer.
Lately, Jen and I have been on a bit of a Sunday brunch bender. It’s become a weekend ritual—our version of church, just with better seating and fewer judgmental stares when I order something with bubbles.
So when Foxcroft Food & Wine in Raleigh reached out and asked if we wanted to swing by North Hills and preview their new Sunday brunch menu, my response was immediate and deeply spiritual: “Count me in.”
If you’ve never been, Foxcroft carries a little history on its plate. The original location opened in Charlotte’s Foxcroft neighborhood over two decades ago, building a reputation on two things: consistently great wine and the kind of comfort-driven food that doesn’t try too hard.
Over the years, it expanded to Charlotte’s SouthPark and Dilworth areas, then Greenville, and finally Raleigh—bringing along its signature no-corkage fees, its wine-shop-meets-restaurant vibe, and the kind of atmosphere where you can show up in jeans but still feel like you’re doing something classy with your life.
Now Raleigh’s location is diving headfirst into brunch, serving it up from 12–4 p.m. on Sundays. Perfect timing for those of us who refuse to acknowledge mornings.
The menu hits that sweet spot between breakfast and lunch: a green shakshuka with braised Swiss chard, tomatillos, baked eggs, and avocado; a hash brown quiche for carb lovers everywhere; and even an açai bowl in case you’re trying to convince yourself you’re healthy. They also kept a few Foxcroft staples on the board, including their house-ground burger (do yourself a favor and add the blue cheese) and the fried chicken sandwich.
But the two items that stopped our scroll—and ultimately our hearts—were the brunch boards. I went with the Chicken & Waffles Board ($24), which arrived like a brunch charcuterie dream: a buttermilk fried chicken breast, pimento cheese, pickled vegetables, two mini waffle stacks (reminding me suspiciously of Stroopwafels), and both Calabrian hot honey and maple syrup for proper dunking protocol.
Jen zeroed in on the Smoked Salmon Board ($28): smoked salmon gravlax, horseradish-caper crème fraîche, jammy boiled eggs, local smoked fish dip, and crisp house-made lavash. It’s the kind of board that says “I’m sophisticated,” even when you’re on your second mimosa.
Speaking of—eat the whole board yourself if you want, but I’ll save you some pain. These portions are generous. Like “you’re getting a to-go box whether you like it or not” generous.
Of course, brunch isn’t brunch without a little something in the glass. Foxcroft’s beverage menu doesn’t skip a beat, from their Fizzy Finesse Flight (prosecco, cava, and crémant) to classic bloody marys, Bellinis, and sangria pitchers. But we went all in with the Mimosa Flight ($35). They bring out a bottle of sparkling wine for the table and let you pick three seasonal juices.
Current lineup: cranberry, orange, pomegranate, pink grapefruit, and peach purée. Yes, we sampled them all. No, we regret nothing.
If you love brunch the way we do—whether you’re heading out after church or simply recovering from whatever questionable decisions Saturday night delivered—Foxcroft Food & Wine’s new brunch menu is absolutely worth checking out.
